Sunday, 8 December 2024
Friday, 1 November 2024
Glass Painting
I remember the early morning mist in the city riding a bike over the streets of cobbles.
The sun burns away the haze, no cars, just people walking quietly to fulfil their monotonous days.
That was long ago, now things have altered, the cobbles have gone, cars are her, and people
hurry on.
The morning mist is soft and quiet like a painting that Hopper might do.
It takes me back to memories of autumn days and idle thoughts of you.
Music runs through my head like the soundtrack to my life, I retrace the lost footsteps of my
youth, listening for the sound of your voice.
The passed is like a long-dead stranger whispering in my ear, telling me thing I already know,
things I don't need to hear.................
Monday, 21 October 2024
Eos heri, Me hodie, Tu cras..........
Them
We left them in their boxes, we left them at the grave our Grannies and Grandads with all their yesterdays. But we were young and didn't care we had our lives to live, so to their wakes we did go too talk of things they did, their golden age their Camelot but all too soon......... They're all forgot.
Me
It's my turn now, I see the look from Nephews and Nieces. They see me go walking slow with shallow breath and wheezes. I know one day without a care they'll leave me in my coffin, and off they'll trot to reminisce of all my ways and teases. But as times rolls on they'll remember me...But not so very often.
You
But soon, "Time that creeps in this petty pace" will tap you on your shoulder, your nearest and dearest will see you're looking older. Family members and acquaintances will stand around your casket, and off they go to talk and laugh at the ways you once enchanted. But they are young without a care and have their lives to live. And off they'll go and you will also be forgotten........
So it was them yesterday, me today, and you tomorrow. And we'll all together in this "Land of lost content". Where bones aren't stiff, flesh not feeble and nothing to lament. Throw away your walking sticks for here we have no scars. I'll be with all my family, and I'll dance among the stars........
Them yesterday, Me today, You tomorrow............
Thursday, 5 September 2024
The Green Man
In the woods of Chelmsley, before the housing estate
The Celtic God Cernunnos resided in that place.
And in that wood my friends and I at the time of Halloween
Go among the silver birch to look for Jack-in-the-Green.
We knew he's hiding in there in full view but still unseen.
With Mab or Titania, or some other Fairy Queen.
Jack, links us to our pagan past a spirit of the ancient woods,
As old as time his dance of life the steps we'd follow, if we could.
Through the paths of wandering fern into groves of old oak trees,
Sunlight shining through the branches, a dazzling carpet of green leaves.
In there The Green Man concealed; The moustachioed green eyed esprit............
Monday, 19 August 2024
The Pharaoh Rocher
As I walked this morning with the smell of caramel lingering like the gentle mist of orange,
upon a Terry's all gold.
I went to see my confectioner for my Candy Bars and Smarties and he told me only sugar free
chocolate can be sold.
This I can't believe I said, I can't believe this trade is dead, you can not abandon tools like that,
your stainless bowls or silpat mat.
Oh great father of the Hershey Bar ever since I was young I breast fed along with M&Ms Truffles'
and things that stained my tongue.
I lost some teeth to chewy treats, Lollipops and boiled sweets, acquired a taste of Nougat,
and some bonbons that are bittersweet.
And now you ask that I should watch no children's teeth to slowly rot, what kind of words
are these to hear from a chocolatier who the dentist fears....................
Now there seems no reason for me to carry on, in this land with no Woolworths for me
to buy Bonbons.
I'm lonely and it's quiet and the woke brigade is coming, so I think it's time to sling my hook
and cease my senseless moaning.
Soon I'll go to fairy dairyland where Toblerones are free, and Cadbury's Wispa Gold Bar
is only made for me.
Where a cascading fondue fountain is something to behold, and death to this old curmudgeon
comes, with a vegan roll......................................
Friday, 26 July 2024
You Me and Him
Born within weeks of each other you me and him.
Played in the streets together you me and him.
First day at school together Miss Mavis our teacher name,
learnt the lessons of life together you me and him.
Ten years at school together you me and him.
Different friends we made together you me and him,
we all left school together had jobs not careers,
we went to the clubs together you me and him.
We all had girlfriends together you me and him,
you had the beautiful one fancied by me and him.
I got the clever one, him, the athlete.
A new future lay ahead for us. You me and him.
We've all grown old together you me and him.
We're in our declining years now you me and him.
One by one friends have gone,
we've had a good inning, so they say.
I wonder who'll be first to go. You me or...........him?
Friday, 12 July 2024
Dark Water
Out of my dream from dark water she comes bringing her light to lighten the day.
Morning light slowly brightens the room lazy thoughts lead my mind astray
from a half forgotten tune.
I think of you in your school girl garb with a satchel upon your back.
Riding the bus a tuppenny fare off to school without a care.
In my mind I see you there tall and thin with plaited hair.
Where was I, in life's morning march when mornings
were pearly pink.
Off to school to learn of things and write with pen and ink.
Vasco da Gama, the Cape of Good Hope, the history of Kings of old.
Assembly's held in the school hall with bible stories told.
In the darkest hour just before the dawn from dark waters
comes the light, and my small world is reborn.
Where every day's always the same................but I am always different............
Friday, 21 June 2024
The Sopranos
Tuesday, 4 June 2024
Fag Ash Lil
Eat your heart out Gavin Turk this is mine it's not your work.
As the snake oil salesman of a rotting apple, you think you're astute?
'Snake Oil' isn't as good as my 'Carved Fruit'.
And as for 'Dumb Candle', it's just a match on a broom handle.
And what's the point of the "Point at This', 'Touch your Nose' or 'Wet Lips'.
Is it to critics that you pamper, to scribble felt tip on recycled paper.
'A Manifesto' just chalk on plywood. It's misunderstood but still not good.
'Emission Edition' I understand, hope it turned out as you planned.
'Figure' is just a cast rusty nail it's time this work you did curtail.
The people who like it are Doo-lally, 'This is That' and 'It's' a load of !!!!!!
Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Tea at the Ritz
I would loved to have tea at the Ritz.
When the twenties were roaring, the 'IT' girls adoring,
and full of glamour and glitz.
In the Palm Court on a chaise lounge,
She drinks tea from a porcelain cup
Or an absinthe and gin highball
That serves as a pick-me-up.
With her hair cut in the 'shingle'
Kohl-rimmed eyes and painted lips,
Liberated from the restrictive corset
The world at her fingertips.
Now dressed in her Parisian frock,
She's ready to give life a whirl,
She's no Edwardian lady
She's not a Gibson girl.......
Monday, 22 April 2024
Bucket List
Grandad! She said, you should make a bucket list. I'll get the paper and pen, you sit there and think. I don't really see the point, but I'll have to give it a go.
The first bucket on my list is a stainless steel pail, the type you see inmates with when serving time in jail.
Next I'd have a sugar Bucket one that's made from wood, It's sometimes called a"firkin." I hope that's understood.
High density polyethylene plastic that's the bucket for me, yellow with black handle so it's easy to see.
A 19th century leather bucket used by the Fire Brigade, for victorian firefighters it was their stock-in-trade.
A white enamel bucket with it's lid, and a blue line around the rim, a wire handle and wooden grip makes it look so trim.
With FIRE painted on the front and a handle on it's base, this bucket comes with a bracket to keep it in its place.
A mop bucket that's been galvanised that would be tip-top. I only want the bucket you can keep the mop.
Not strictly buckets but I'll add them to my List.
The Lunch bucket from the U.S.A, But really it's just a tin
A watering can with a long spout and a fitted brass rose.
A coal scuttle shaped as a Stahlhelm, and that's it ..................I suppose.
Grandad that's not right, It's not buckets to collect. It's a list of things for you to do with memories to be kept. I have that list it's called "Sod That". I'll show it to you now.......
Climb to Mount Everest base camp..................................................Sod That.
Swim with dolphins..........................................................................Sod That.
Parachute jump..................................................................................Sod That.
Bungee jump.....................................................................................Sod That.
Whale watching................................................................................Sod That.
The Northern lights...........................................................................Sod Them.
To stand under a mountain waterfall.................................................You can really Sod That.
Wednesday, 17 April 2024
Leonardo da King Cole
Moaning Lisa, Moaning Lisa I have named you.
I can't paint the lady with the mystic smile.
From your eyes I can see that you blame me
for that Moaning Lisa strangeness in your smile.
Is it a look of contempt that you give me,
with angry eyes you know you broke my heart.
Many dreams I have brought to your doorstop,
they just lie there and they die there,
I will not give you eyebrows Moaning Lisa
I will leave you as a crappy work of art...................
Thursday, 4 April 2024
The Big Lebowski
Machine were mice and men were lion's once upon a time.
But now that it's the opposite It's twice upon a time.
I have trouble with my short term memory I may have said before.
My problem is my short term memory I forget things more and more.
I go into a room and wonder what I've come here for.
I have no short term memory I may have said before.
My memory is more long term now, where did those days go?
Marleys on the way to school and football in the snow.
Street games. Camel-Fight, Kick-the-Can, Hot-rice.
And nitty Nora the school nit nurse looking for head lice.
Bonfire night was just one night, one night in all the year.
Bangers and jumping Jacks and fires everywhere.
A smoke filled night, the sky orange bright, with laughter and joy.
November the fifth. Bonfire night was loved by every boy.
Sometimes when you're old you remember, and sometimes you forget.
The scent of something can haunt you, something to regret.
Somewhere over the next hill, the memory might come back.
A long life isn't always fair, but it's a lot fairer than death.
Sunday, 17 March 2024
All my own Work
Jewels are baubles; 't is a sin to care for such unfruitful things;
One good-sized diamond in a pin some, not so large, in rings,
A ruby, and a pearl or so, will do for me;-
I laugh at show.........
Friday, 1 March 2024
Saint Dymphna
Poor old Mont.
He's in a boat that has no sail, cast adrift on a windless sea carried along on a current of fear bound for nowhere he wants to be.
He doesn't remember growing old he remembers being young. In a land that always seemed to be a summer's afternoon.
He's escaped into the darkness with a smile touched with sadness. He has not always been THIS man,
he used to be another man.....................
Day Crashes into Night
As day and night come crashing in with no space between for a cock to crow.
Night comes with his star's picking their way into the evening sky.
And soon the day shining her light and pushing the moon and sapphires away.
Now there is no time between day and night from one to the other without twilight.
Let the day and night come crashing in with no space for dusk or dawn.
Thursday, 4 January 2024
Thank You Very Much
Thank you very much, thank you very much. That's the nicest sketch that anyone's ever done for me. You've give me nice green eyes, I never realised, that's the way you've always have thought of me. And if I had me drum I'd do a drum roll, to show you I like what you have done. But as I've left me drum at home I simply have to say. Thank you very very very much. Thank you very very very much.
Thank you very much, thank you very much. That's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me.You've put me on your blog and you've wrote this monologue, and you nearly draw a smile on my face for me. And if I had me bugle I would blow it to show you how happy I can be. But as I've left me bugle at home I simply have to say. Thank you very very very much, thank you very very very much.
Thank you very much, thank you very much. That's the nicest gift that anyone ever gave to me. I feel that we're a team, the best there's ever been, and everyone is playing in the game for me. And if I had me whistle I would blow it as if I was a Celestial referee. But as I've left me whistle at home I simply have to say. Thank you very very very much, thank you very very very much...........................